Newcastle-on-Tyne, England, and was sent out by the London Missionary Society, in the summer of 1800. Having officiated about six years on Chaleur Bay, Lower Canada, and resided a short time in Cumberland, Nova Scotia, he arrived in River John in the fall of 1808. He laboured one winter in this new station without ministerial connection with any ecclesiastical body in the province, but was induced to unite, during the following summer, with the Presbytery of Pictou. Mr. Mitchell, while exerting himself assiduously in River John, directed his attention at an early period to the inhabitants of Tatmagouche. The usual place of sermon was distant about ten miles, by the nearest route, from his residence; and in those times the roads, if they deserved the name, were of the most wretched description. By-and-by he

extended his labours ten miles beyond Tatmagouche, to New Annan, then quite a new settlement, and, of course, in a wild, uncultivated state. These things will indicate the great bodily toil to which he was subjected, but which he underwent with the greatest cheerfulness.

In this manner he continued to labour till the year 1826, when Tatmagouche and New Annan were formed into a distinct congregation, when his labours became much less severe. He enjoyed excellent health till near his end. A violent attack of gravel terminated in his dissolution on the 8th of May 1841, in the seventy-sixth year of his age.

Mr. Mitchell was above the ordinary size, wellformed and sinewy, of a fair complexion and cheerful countenance. Although he made no pretensions to extent of learning, he was acute, and possessed a respectable share of general information. He was a

good man, and his memory is much and justly revered.

In the year 1815, the Presbytery of Pictou was still farther strengthened by the arrival of the Rev. William Patrick, who had been minister for a number of years in Lockerby, Scotland.

Mr. Patrick was most cordially received by the people of Merigomish, county of Pictou, and was inducted on the 16th day of November, same year. This settlement was formed about the year 1784, by a number of disbanded soldiers of his majesty's (George III.) 82d regiment, that had served in the American revolutionary war; and as the soil was found to be of good quality, accessions were gradually made to the population from a variety of quarters. Here Mr. Patrick continued to labour so long as his physical strength would allow. From temperament, as well as moral principle, he was a man of activity, and entered on his labours with great vigour. Although in possession of a small farm, he never allowed his agricultural operations to interfere with his ministerial duties: in these he was exemplary. Besides preparing carefully for the pulpit, he was punctual in catechising, in family visitation, and in attending meetings for prayer. He preached often on weekdays; and frequently on Sabbath, after delivering two discourses in his own church, he would deliver a third at the distance of a considerable number of miles; he also attended Church courts with great regularity. For a considerable time during the latter part of his life, he felt that his bodily strength was on the decline, and on the 7th of May 1844, he had the satisfaction of having the Rev. Andrew B. Millar, preacher from the United Secession Church, ordained

as his colleague. From this period Mr. Patrick performed little or no public service in the Church, in consequence of debility, which gradually increased, till, suddenly, on being seized with a fit of sickness, which his exhausted constitution could not sustain, he calmly expired on the evening of the 25th of November 1844, in the seventy-third year of his age. Mr. Patrick was a native of the parish of Kilsyth, county of Stirling, Scotland. In his younger years he was brought up in the Reformed Presbyterian Church; but connecting himself, from conviction of duty, with the General Associate Synod, he studied theology under the Rev. Archibald Bruce.

CHAPTER XI.

Union of the two Presbyteries-Basis of Union-Extract minute of first meeting of the Presbyterian Church of Nova Scotia.

THE union between the Presbyteries of Truro and Pictou was consummated in July 1817, on these grounds :

"I. The following formulary shall be put to, and satisfactorily answered by, all who are ordained to the office of the ministry in the United Church:

"1. Do you believe that the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the word of God, and the only rule of faith and practice?

"2. Do you believe that the whole doctrine contained in the Westminster Confession of Faith and Catechisms, as received by this Church, is a scriptural exhibition of divine truth; and do you engage, according to your station, to profess and maintain it in the Church? *

* This Church receives the whole doctrine contained in the Westminster Confession of Faith and Catechisms, except that part of it which respects the magistrate's power in matters of religion. They give no decision as to the doctrine taught in these words (Confession, ch. xxiii., sect. 3): "Yet he hath authority, and it is his duty, to take order, that unity and peace be preserved in the Church-that the truth of God be kept pure and entirethat all blasphemies and heresies be suppressed-all corruptions and abuses in worship and discipline prevented or reformed, and

"3. Do you believe that the Presbyterial form of government, as maintained in this Church, is agreeable to the Word of God; and do you promise to maintain it doctrinally, and practically to adhere to its discipline, both as a member of the Church and as a minister of Christ?

"4. Do you engage to maintain the spiritual unity of the Church in its doctrine and government, worship and discipline; and do you solemnly pledge yourself, in the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ and his Church, never to propagate any contradictory principle, nor introduce any contrary practice among those intrusted to your charge, nor in any other public way, till you have regularly acquainted your brethren in the ministry with the alteration of your views, and till these views have been discussed, and the general sentiments of the Church ascertained?

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5. Is love to God and to the souls of men your principal inducement to enter into the office of the holy ministry?

"6. Can you with a safe conscience declare, that you have used no improper means to procure a call to the ministry in this congregation?

"7. Do you accept the call to the pastoral office over this people, and do you solemnly engage to conduct yourself as a faithful minister of the gospel among them, and also wherever Providence affords you an all the ordinances of God duly settled, administered, and observed; for the better effecting whereof, he hath power to call synods, to be present at them." And they deny the doctrine taught in these words, ibidem: "And to provide that whatsoever is transacted in them be according to the mind of God." And they hold that Church rulers have authority, ex officio, to meet for government and discipline, whensoever the circumstances of the Church require it, any thing in the Confession, ch. xxxi., sect. 2, notwithstanding.